Oxford results, good for the 'others'

Matthew Selwood

 

In keeping with its status as an 'interesting' council - Oxford City Council had some intriguing results on May 4th. In the end, as most observers predicted, the Lib Dems were the largest party - but things weren't as simple as they might initially appear. Indeed, the first gain of any party was for Labour *against* the Liberal Democrats in Cowley Marsh. Cllr Tony Brett, who had moved away from the supposedly marginal LD/Green Holywell Ward to contest the 'safe' LD seat of Cowley Marsh, was beaten by what appeared to be a largely communalist Muslim vote.

However, while the Lib Dems seemed to be making little headway against Labour at the beginning of the night, they were scoring successes against the Greens. In 'marginal' Holywell Ward and the North Oxford ward of St Margarets, the LDs held their seats against the Green Party with large majorities, largely because of the controversy over the building of the animal research lab in the city centre (supported by the Lib Dems, opposed by the Greens).

It even appeared that Labour might hold on to minority control as they scored surprisingly good results against the IWCA in Churchill and Blackbird Leys - but the IWCA managed to unseat veteran Labour councillor Carole Roberts in Northfield Brook, to take their total to four. Similarly, news started to improve for the Greens as the night dragged on, with the results from East Oxford confirming the Green dominance of the area - Green Group leader Craig Simmons gained 66.6% of the vote in St Marys Ward! The Greens also gained the second seat in Iffley Fields ward from Labour with a thumping majority, to sweep the six councillors of East Area and gain complete control of its Area Committee.

Finally, some semblance of 'normality' began to reassert itself as the Liberal Democrats unseated former Labour Lord Mayor Maureen Christian (coming from third place to do so), won the seat of retiring Labour Council Leader Alex Hollingsworth in Barton, and also won Cowley. RESPECT posted 213 votes in Cowley to come fifth behind the Greens.

When the dust had settled, Oxford was left with 19 LD councillors, 17 Labour councillors, 8 Greens and 4 IWCA representatives. Labour had lost 4 councillors, the Lib Dems had gained two, and the Greens and IWCA gained one each. Earlier today, the Labour Group elected leftish Lord Mayor Bob Price as their new leader, with 27 year old Ed Turner elected as their Deputy. Negotiations are ongoing as to the next administration, but it looks likely that it will be a Liberal Democrat minority administration - and it will certainly be an interesting couple of years...

 

 

 

May 2006

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